Expandable receptacle

ABSTRACT

A receptacle having accordion folding in the top portion which functions both as a means to allow compression and expansion of the receptacle from variations of ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure and for evacuating the contents of the receptacle through a discharge nozzle at the top of the accordion folding.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Austin E. Elmore 8519 E. Pasadena Ave., Scottsdale, Ariz.

8525]; Ernest A. Uhlmann, 5205 N. Saddle Rock Road, Phoenix, Arlz. 85018 [2! 1 App]. No. 767,340 [22] Filed Oct. 14, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 9, I971 [54] EXPANDABLE RECEPTACLE 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 222/209, 222/212, 222/320, 222/531 [51] Int. Cl 365d 37/00 [50] Field olSearch 222/2] l. 212, 526, 531, 536, $37, 215, 206, 209, 320

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,774,518 l2/l956 Greene 222/209 3.392.886 7/1968 Albert et al 222/2 l 2 2,755,972 7/l956 Nave et al 222/2ll 2,784,882 3/l957 DuBois 222/21 1 X 298L444 4/1961 Root ZZZ/2H X 3,323,689 6/l967 Elmore 222/531 X FOREIGN PATENTS 590,715 4/!959 ltaly 222/209 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Attorney-Willard L. Groene ABSTRACT: A receptacle having accordion folding in the top portion which functions both as a means to allow compression and expansion of the receptacle from variations of ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure and for evacuating the contents of the receptacle through a discharge nozzle at the top of the accordion folding.

EXPANDABLE RECEPTACLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention lies in flexible plastic containers or receptacles and is particularly directed to such containers having an accordion-folded portion to prevent change in the normal configuration of the container due to temperature and atmospheric pressure changes and also to provide a means for evacuating the contents of the container by squeezing and contracting the accordion portion of the bottle.

Heretofore, flexible plastic containers have been deformed from their true shape into unsightly configurations due to ambient temperature and atmospheric fluctuations rendering them unsightly and unacceptable for storage and display purposes.

Further, the expansion of the contents in such receptacles has been caused to leak through the closure cap when the elastic limit of the receptacle has been reached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is to construct a flexible, pliable receptacle which maintains its shape under all conditions of temperature and atmospheric pressure variations.

Another object is to provide a flexible plastic receptacle as above described which can accommodate itself without deformation of its shape for pressure variations within the storage chamber of the receptacle.

And it is a further object to provide a receptacle having the above features, which features further function as a pumping device for evacuating the contents of the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a receptacle incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the nozzle in open discharge position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the nozzle in closed, shutoff position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As an example of one embodiment of this invention, there is shown a receptacle in the form of a bottle having a bottom and integrally connected upstanding cylindrical portion 11 to the top of which is integrally formed the accordion-folding portion 12. A diaphragm l3 closes the top opening of the accordion-folding portion 12 centrally of which is formed the threaded neck 14.

A cap 15 threadedly fits on the neck 14 and seals securely against the lip 16 of the neck 14 of the receptacle.

Formed integrally with a depending downwardly from the cap 15 is the intake pipe 17 to which is connected the flexible suction hose 18 which extends downwardly with its lower open end 20 being supported at all times in the corner 19 formed by the bottom 10 and the upstanding cylindrical portion 11. One or more transverse openings 21 may be provided in the tube 18 closely adjacent to the end 20.

A combined nozzle and shutofi valve 22 has a discharge spout 23 and a manipulating web 24 for rotating the nozzle 22.

'15 and communicating with the passageway 26 formed in the intake pipe 17. A cutaway portion 27 in the shank 22a allows intercommunication between the passageway 26 and the passageway 28 in the nozzle 22 when turned to normal discharge position shown in FIG. 4.

When the noule 22 is turned to closed shutofi position to seal the contents in the container, as shown in FIG. 5, passageway 28 is disconnected from communication with passageway 26.

Normally, with the nozzle 22 turned to open position, FIG. 4, the bottle assumes the broken-line position shown in FIG. 2. Under these conditions the top of the container may be alternately squeezed down to the full line position of FIG. 2 and released for discharging the container contents out through the nozzle 22. When the nozzle is turned to closed-ofi position, FIG. 5, temperature and atmospheric pressure effects on the bottle are automatically compensated for by the same movement of the bellows 12, as when discharging the contents from the bottle so that the cylindrical portion 11 of the bottle remains in its normal shape and form and does not become caved in or bulged out during shipping or storage as atmospheric temperatures and pressures vary.

We claim:

1. An expandable receptacle comprising in combination:

A. a bottom,

B. an upstanding cylindrical portion integrally connected to the periphery of the bottom,

C. an accordion-folding portion being of a general cylindrical configuration formed on the top of the upstanding cylindrical portion as an extension thereof,

D. a flat flexible diaphragm closure extending from the outer periphery of said accordion folding portion across the top of the accordion-folding portion to a threaded receptacle neck,

E. a threaded receptacle neck formed on the diaphragm,

F. a cap threadedly demountably connected to the neck,

G. an intake pipe formed integral with and depending downwardly from the cap having a passageway therein,

H. a flexible suction hose having its upper end connected to the intake pipe and extending curvingly downwardly with its lower open end being supported at all times in the corner formed by the bottom and upstanding cylindrical portion of the receptacle, said accordiomfolding portion formed on the top of said cylindrical portion being distortable to position in a plurality of predetermined positions said intake pipe to selectively direct the fluid contents of the receptacle,

I. and a combined nozzle and shutoff valve in the cap.

2. An expandable receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the com bined nozzle and shutoff valve includes:

J. a rotatable discharge spout having a passageway therein,

K. a manipulating web on the nozzle for manual rotation thereof,

L. a cylindrical shank on the nozzle rotatable and sealingly fitting in a passageway bore in the cap communicating with the passageways in the intake pipe and in the nozzle,

M. and a cutaway portion in the shank allowing selective intercommunication or shutoff between the passageway bore in the cap and the passageway in the intake pipe by the manual axial rotation of the nozzle. 

1. An expandable receptacle comprising in combination: A. a bottom, B. an upstanding cylindrical portion integrally connected to the periphery of the bottom, C. an accordion-folding portion being of a general cylindrical configuration formed on the top of the upstanding cylindrical portion as an extension thereof, D. a flat flexible diaphragm closure extending from the outer periphery of said accordion folding portion across the top of the accordion-folding portion to a threaded receptacle neck, E. a threaded receptacle neck formed on the diaphragm, F. a cap threadedly demountably connected to the neck, G. an intake pipe formed integral with and depending downwardly from the cap having a passageway therein, H. a flexible suction hose having its upper end connected to the intake pipe and extending curvingly downwardly with its lower open end being supported at all times in the corner formed by the bottom and upstanding cylindrical portion of the receptacle, said accordion-folding portion formed on the top of said cylindrical portion being distortable to position in a plurality of predetermined positions said intake pipe to selectively direct the fluid contents of the receptacle, I. and a combined nozzle and shutoff valve in the cap.
 2. An expandable receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the combined nozzle and shutoff valve includes: J. a rotatable discharge spout having a passageway therein, K. a manipulating web on the nozzle for manual rotation thereof, L. a cylindrical shank on the nozzle rotatable and sealingly fitting in a passageway bore in the cap communicating with the passageways in the intake pipe and in the nozzle, M. and a cutaway portion in the shank allowing selective intercommunication or shutoff between the passageway bore in the cap and the passageway in the intake pipe by the manual axial rotation of the nozzle. 